In their generosity, the Lion clan has constructed separate, free-standing guest-houses for the clans. They are arranged in a neat half-circle, bisected through the apex by the path from the gates, the open end facing the Keep. There is one house for each of the Great Clans, including the Lion, and an additional house for the Minor Clans set off from the principal arc by a few meters’ distance. The Imperial delegation is residing in the main castle.

Each house consists of a single very large open space enclosed by the exterior walls, each of which can slide open. In one corner of the room stand the 32 paper and wood dividing screens the Lion have provided to allow the guests to divide their allotted space as they wish. Also provided: 1 desk, 1 comfortable futon, 1 complementary wicker umbrella in a stand, 1 stack of plain white paper sheets, and a handwritten note to each delegate welcoming them to the Imperial Winter Court in a terse but not aggressive way. These notes are arranged on the desk in a neat square of four rows of four, with the delegation head’s note on top, not one millimeter from dead center.

Everyone in a guest house can, if they have the exterior screen facing the keep open, see who enters every other Great Clan guest house and the keep. The entrance to the Minor Clan guest house entrance is only visible from the Lion guest house and the keep.